Ray Littleton Perkins, Jr. age 88, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2009 in Rome, Ga.  He was born February 26, 1921 in Floyd Co., Ga. son of the late Ray Littleton Sr. and Nora Busby Perkins.  He served in the US Marine Corps.  He was a former employee of Burgess Used Cars and was a Baptist by faith.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Denton Perkins; son, Johnny Ray Perkins, grandson, Matt Perkins, and son-in-law, Kenny Shelton.

Survivors include two daughters: Rose Marie Shelton and Jeannie Leyva both of Summerville; three grandsons: Christopher Shelton, Dalonega, Ga., Bryan Shaw, California, and Kevin Leyva, Summerville; granddaughter, Valeri Leyva of Summerville; four great-grandchildren also survive. 

Graveside and interment services will be conducted Monday, September 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. from Trinity Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

Mr. Perkins will lie-in-state on Monday, September 7, 2009 where the family will receive friends from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home.

Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home has charge of funeral services for Mr. Ray Perkins, Jr. who passed away on Saturday.

Friday, September 4, 2009

MRS. JOYCE H. LOVINGOOD, age 80, of East Washington Street-Summerville, Georgia passed away Wednesday morning in a Rome hospital. A native of Chattooga County, Georgia, she was born to the late Thurman David and Marlene Payne Barrett on March 3, 1929. Mrs. Lovingood was retired Medical Lab Technician and a member of the Summerville First Baptist Church and the Dorcas Sunday School Class of the Church. She was preceded in death by her husbands, the late Lee Gene McKinzie and the late Dr. Berlon Lovingood.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 3:30 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, interment in Summerville Cemetery. Active Pallbearers: Steve Goodridge, Jerry Skelton, Jr., Josh McCorsley, Jon McCorsley, Kevin Bond and Billy Dean Quinton.  Honorary Pallbearers:  the Dorcas Sunday School Class of Summerville First Baptist Church. Visitation will be Saturday from 6 until 9 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Flowers are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Summerville First Baptist Church, 125 Georgia Ave., Summerville, GA.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Myra Suzanne DeBerry Steele, beloved wife of Jerry "Babe" Steele, of Steele Grading and Excavating in Lafayette, GA, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Sunday morning with her family at her side after a short battle with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Surviving, other than her husband, are 2 daughters, Maria Lynn Steele, and Carrie Trammell Lathem and son-in-law Adam Lathem, of Summerville, GA, and 1 son, Billy Adam Trammell of Trion, GA.; 2 grandchildren, Chandler Lathem and Madison Lathem. She also leaves behind 2 brothers, Rick DeBerry and Douglas Beliakoff of Chattanooga, TN and 1 sister, Leslie Bice and brother-in-law Michael Bice of Summerville, GA. She is the daughter of the late Herbert C. DeBerry and Suzie Hankins Westbooks of Summerville, GA. Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Autry officiating with entombment in the Lafayette Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Active pallbearers, Rick DeBerry, Adam Trammell, Adam Lathem, Doug Beliakoff, Bobby Hannah and Larry Steele. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening at the Mason Funeral Home from 6 to 9 p.m. Due to the recent illness of their daughter, Maria, family, friends and guest will be received afterwards at the home of Joyce Hannah Barton, 1023 Halls Valley Rd, Trion, GA.

Mary Elizabeth "Peggy" Love, age 72, of 1560 Back Penn Road, passed away Friday, August 28th 2009 in Redmond Regional Medical Center. She was born January 2, 1937 in Chattooga County to the late J.D. and Rena Ruth Blackburn Reese. She was retired from Best Manufacturing, a member of the Best Silver Club, and was Baptist by faith. She was preceeded in death by her husband, LC "Bunky" Love.

Survivors include her daughter Susan Wallin, Trion; son Lamar Charles Love, Menlo; brother and wife James and Gladys Reese, Summerville; niece Debbie Johnson, Summerville and nephew David Reese, Trion.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 2:00pm from the chapel of Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home with Rev. Vernon Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers are requested to meet at the funeral home on Sunday at 1:30pm and include the following: Steve Love, Terry Johnson, David Reese, Mark Winter, Joe Smith and Mike Camp.

Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home has charge of arrangements for Mrs. Peggy Love who passed away on Friday.

Mrs. Irene Teems Booker, age 82, of Summerville, GA died Friday, August 28, 2009 at Redmond Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Booker was born July 11, 1927 in Chattooga County, GA the daughter of the late Robert Teems and Mattie Brown Teems. She was a homemaker and a member of Perennial Springs Baptist Church and had lived in the Perennial springs Community for the past 65 years. Mrs. Booker was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Walter Booker, SR. a son, Roy Walter Booker, Jr., daughter, Doris Ware, and a sister, Lillie Mae Booker.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Janice Brewster Tingle and Jim Tingle and Gail and Richard Echols, both of Summerville, GA; brother, Milburn Teems, LaFayette, GA; grandchildren, Kevin Ware, Kristi & Roy Bennett, Joey & Sherry Brewster, and Bryan Echols; great grandchildren, John Kevin Ware, Kelsea Brewster, and Angel Meadows Ware and several nieces. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday August 31, 2009 from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Waydell Howell officiating with interment in the Perennial Springs Cemetery. Mrs. Booker will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Sunday August 30, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m.

MS. SARAH OLETA WARD, age 96, of Summerville, Georgia passed away Saturday morning in the local nursing home. A native of Dekalb County, Alabama She was born on July 25, 1913 to the late William Henry and Emily Ida Biddle Keith. Ms. Ward was a member of South Summerville Baptist Church and was preceded in death by sisters the late Margie Keith, the late Lovella Crook, and the late Beatrice Williams; brother-the late Oscar Keith; daughter-in-law- the late Jeannette Peek.

Surviving are daughter & son-in-law-Calla Mae & Norman Bryant of Summerville; son-Kenneth Peek of Henegar, AL.; granddaughters-Ami Heckler of Rainsville, Al., Kay Upton of Boaz, Al., & Tracy Tietgens of Lewisburg, TN.; grandsons-Dennis Bryant, Anthony Bryant, and Alan Bryant all of Summerville; great grandsons-Jeremy Bell, Kevin Akin, Landon Bryant, Calen Cooper, Ryan Tietgens, Eric Tietgens, & Brian Heckler; great granddaughters-Michelle Rowell, Kristen Watson, Stephanie Herring, Hunter Bryant, Hensley Bryant, Sarah Tietgens; great great granddaughters-Madison Jones, Ava Herring, Brody Bryant; great great grandson-Trenton Rowell; several Nieces & Nephews.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 3:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Bryant and Rev. David Craven officiating, interment in Liberty Cemetery, Henegar, AL.. Active Pallbearers Grandsons and Great Grandsons; Honorary Pallbearers Dr. Bruce Lee, Billy Nalley, and Staff of Oak View Nursing Home, and special friend Carl McKenzie. Visitation will be Sunday 1 until 3 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Ms. Sarah Oleta Ward.

Mr. Donald J. "Loy" Espy, age 87, of Menlo, GA died Thursday, August 27, 2009at his residence.  Mr. Espy was born April 24, 1922 in Cherokee County, AL, the son of the late Donald Espy and Myrtle Abernathy Espy. He was retired from Riegel Textiles. Mr. Espy was preceded in deathby his wife of 62 years, Thelma Espy; sisters, Mildred Baker and Edna Roper; brothers, Elbert Espy, Emmett Espy, Joe Espy, and Wallace "Watt" Espy. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Charlie Swords; sister, MargaretBaker; sister and brother-in-law, Francis and Tab Dempsey; grandchildren, Joseph Swordsand Justin Swords. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Sunday, August 30, 2009 at Mason Funeral HomeChapel with Rev. Jimmy Wilborn officiating. Burial will follow in AMI Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Joseph Swords, Justin Swords, Charlie Swords, Sid Swords, Lamar Wilburn and Tab Dempsey. Mr. Espy will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from6:00 until 8:00 p. m. Saturday, August 29, 2009. Mason Funeral Home is directing. For guestbook, please go online to www.masonfuneralhome.com 

Mr. Tracy Lindsey Odum of Spring Creek Road, Trion, passed away Tuesday morning at his residence.  Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home.